Devices for sending and receiving hybrid automatic repeat request information for carrier aggregation

ABSTRACT

A User Equipment (UE) for sending Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) information is described. The UE includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The UE determines a primary cell (PCell) configuration. The UE also determines a secondary cell (SCell) configuration. The UE further determines whether the PCell configuration specifies uplink (UL) and the SCell configuration specifies downlink (DL) for a subframe or whether the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe. The UE additionally determines a HARQ Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) reporting subframe based on the PCell configuration if the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe. The UE also sends SCell Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) HARQ-ACK information in the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems. Morespecifically, the present disclosure relates to devices for sending andreceiving hybrid automatic repeat request information for carrieraggregation.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communication devices have become smaller and more powerful inorder to meet consumer needs and to improve portability and convenience.Consumers have become dependent upon wireless communication devices andhave come to expect reliable service, expanded areas of coverage andincreased functionality. A wireless communication system may providecommunication for a number of wireless communication devices, each ofwhich may be serviced by a base station. A base station may be a fixedstation that communicates with wireless communication devices.

As wireless communication devices have advanced, improvements incommunication capacity, speed, flexibility and/or efficiency have beensought. However, improving communication capacity, speed, flexibilityand/or efficiency may present certain problems.

For example, wireless communication devices may communicate with one ormore devices using a communication structure. However, the communicationstructure used may only offer limited flexibility and/or efficiency. Asillustrated by this discussion, systems and methods that improvecommunication flexibility and/or efficiency may be beneficial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of one or moreevolved Node Bs (eNBs) and one or more User Equipments (UEs) in whichsystems and methods for sending and receiving Hybrid Automatic RepeatRequest (HARQ) information may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one configuration of a method forsending HARQ information for carrier aggregation;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating one configuration of a method forreceiving HARQ information for carrier aggregation;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating one example of a radio frame that maybe used in accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating some uplink-downlink (UL-DL)configurations in accordance with the systems and methods describedherein;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating examples of primary cell (PCell) andsecondary cell (SCell) configurations;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating additional examples of PCell and SCellconfigurations;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first procedure for reportingPhysical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) HARQ Acknowledgement(HARQ-ACK);

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one example of selected associationsfor a PCell with 5 millisecond (ms) periodicity in accordance with thesystems and methods described herein;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating one example of selected associationsfor a PCell with 10 ms periodicity in accordance with the systems andmethods disclosed herein;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating examples of determining a HARQ-ACKreporting subframe in accordance with the systems and methods disclosedherein;

FIG. 12 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a UE;

FIG. 13 illustrates various components that may be utilized in an eNB;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of a UE inwhich systems and methods for sending HARQ information for carrieraggregation may be implemented; and

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of an eNB inwhich systems and methods for receiving HARQ information for carrieraggregation may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A UE for sending HARQ information is described. The UE includes aprocessor and instructions stored in memory that is in electroniccommunication with the processor. The UE determines a PCellconfiguration. The UE also determines an SCell configuration. The UEfurther determines whether the PCell configuration specifies uplink (UL)and the SCell configuration specifies downlink (DL) for a subframe orwhether the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configurationspecifies DL for the subframe. The UE additionally determines a HARQ-ACKreporting subframe based on the PCell configuration if the PCellconfiguration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe. The UE also sends SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information in theHARQ-ACK reporting subframe. The UE may generate the SCell PDSCHHARQ-ACK information corresponding to the subframe. The UE may determinethe HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on a selected UL-DL configurationand a subframe number if the PCell configuration specifies UL and theSCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe.

An SCell and a PCell may include aggregated carriers. The PCell and theSCell may have a same periodicity or differing periodicities.

The selected UL-DL configuration may specify a PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociation. The selected UL-DL configuration may be selected from UL-DLconfigurations 0-6. The selected UL-DL configuration may be selectedbased on at least one of payload balancing and HARQ-ACK delay.

An eNB for receiving HARQ information is also described. The eNBincludes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is inelectronic communication with the processor. The eNB determines a PCellconfiguration corresponding to a UE. The eNB also determines an SCellconfiguration corresponding to the UE. The eNB further determineswhether the PCell configuration specifies UL and the SCell configurationspecifies DL for a subframe or whether the PCell configuration specifiesDL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe. The eNBadditionally determines a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on the PCellconfiguration if the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for the subframe. The eNB also receives SCellPDSCH HARQ-ACK information in the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe. The eNBmay determine the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on a selected UL-DLconfiguration and a subframe number if the PCell configuration specifiesUL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe.

An SCell and a PCell may include aggregated carriers. The PCell and theSCell may have a same periodicity or differing periodicities.

The selected UL-DL configuration may specify a PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociation. The selected UL-DL configuration may be selected from UL-DLconfigurations 0-6. The selected UL-DL configuration may be selectedbased on at least one of the group consisting of payload balancing andHARQ-ACK delay.

A method for sending HARQ information by a UE is also described. Themethod includes determining a PCell configuration. The method alsoincludes determining an SCell configuration. The method further includesdetermining whether the PCell configuration specifies UL and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for a subframe or whether the PCellconfiguration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe. The method additionally includes determining a HARQ-ACKreporting subframe based on the PCell configuration if the PCellconfiguration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe. The method also includes sending SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACKinformation in the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe.

A method for receiving HARQ information by an eNB is also described. Themethod includes determining a PCell configuration corresponding to a UE.The method also includes determining an SCell configurationcorresponding to the UE. The method further includes determining whetherthe PCell configuration specifies UL and the SCell configurationspecifies DL for a subframe or whether the PCell configuration specifiesDL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe. The methodadditionally includes determining a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based onthe PCell configuration if the PCell configuration specifies DL and theSCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe. The method alsoincludes receiving SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information in the HARQ-ACKreporting subframe.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project, also referred to as “3GPP,” is acollaboration agreement that aims to define globally applicabletechnical specifications and technical reports for third and fourthgeneration wireless communication systems. The 3GPP may definespecifications for next generation mobile networks, systems, anddevices.

3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the name given to a project to improvethe Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile phone ordevice standard to cope with future requirements. In one aspect, UMTShas been modified to provide support and specification for the EvolvedUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN).

At least some aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein may bedescribed in relation to the 3GPP LTE, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) and otherstandards (e.g., 3GPP Releases 8, 9, 10 and/or 11). However, the scopeof the present disclosure should not be limited in this regard. At leastsome aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein may be utilizedin other types of wireless communication systems.

A wireless communication device may be an electronic device used tocommunicate voice and/or data to a base station, which in turn maycommunicate with a network of devices (e.g., public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN), the Internet, etc.). In describing systems and methodsherein, a wireless communication device may alternatively be referred toas a mobile station, a UE, an access terminal, a subscriber station, amobile terminal, a remote station, a user terminal, a terminal, asubscriber unit, a mobile device, etc. Examples of wirelesscommunication devices include cellular phones, smart phones, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, netbooks, e-readers,wireless modems, etc. In 3GPP specifications, a wireless communicationdevice is typically referred to as a UE. However, as the scope of thepresent disclosure should not be limited to the 3GPP standards, theterms “UE” and “wireless communication device” may be usedinterchangeably herein to mean the more general term “wirelesscommunication device.”

In 3GPP specifications, a base station is typically referred to as aNode B, an eNB, a home enhanced or evolved Node B (HeNB) or some othersimilar terminology. As the scope of the disclosure should not belimited to 3GPP standards, the terms “base station,” “Node B,” “eNB,”and “HeNB” may be used interchangeably herein to mean the more generalterm “base station.” Furthermore, the term “base station” may be used todenote an access point. An access point may be an electronic device thatprovides access to a network (e.g., Local Area Network (LAN), theInternet, etc.) for wireless communication devices. The term“communication device” may be used to denote both a wirelesscommunication device and/or a base station.

It should be noted that as used herein, a “cell” may be anycommunication channel that is specified by standardization or regulatorybodies to be used for International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced(IMT-Advanced) and all of it or a subset of it may be adopted by 3GPP aslicensed bands (e.g., frequency band) to be used for communicationbetween an eNB and a UE. “Configured cells” are those cells of which theUE is aware and is allowed by an eNB to transmit or receive information.“Configured cell(s)” may be serving cell(s). The UE may receive systeminformation and perform the required measurements on all configuredcells. “Activated cells” are those configured cells on which the UE istransmitting and receiving. That is, activated cells are those cells forwhich the UE monitors the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) andin the case of a downlink transmission, those cells for which the UEdecodes a PDSCH. “Deactivated cells” are those configured cells that theUE is not monitoring the transmission PDCCH. It should be noted that a“cell” may be described in terms of differing dimensions. For example, a“cell” may have temporal, spatial (e.g., geographical) and frequencycharacteristics.

The systems and methods disclosed herein describe devices for sendingand receiving HARQ information for carrier aggregation. For example,PDSCH HARQ-ACK reporting for carrier aggregation (e.g., inter-bandcarrier aggregation) with different Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) UL-DLconfigurations is described.

In accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein, differentTDD UL-DL configurations may be used for inter-band carrier aggregation.In other words, the cells or component carriers (CCs) in different bandsmay have different UL-DL configurations. Carrier aggregation refers tothe concurrent utilization of more than one carrier. In one example,carrier aggregation may be used to increase the effective bandwidthavailable to a UE. One type of carrier aggregation is inter-band carrieraggregation. In inter-band carrier aggregation, multiple carriers frommultiple bands may be aggregated. For example, a carrier in a first bandmay be aggregated with a carrier in a second band. As used herein, theterm “concurrent” and variations thereof may denote that at least twoevents may overlap each other in time, and may or may not mean that theat least two events begin and/or end at precisely the same time.

In 3GPP Release-10 specifications, uplink reporting is carried only on aPCell. However, for inter-band carrier aggregation with different TDDUL-DL configurations, the uplink reporting of an SCell with a differentUL-DL configuration may not be dropped. Therefore, the systems andmethods disclosed herein provide some rules for aggregating andreporting of Acknowledgement/Negative Acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) fordownlink transmission for inter-band carrier aggregation with differentTDD UL-DL configurations.

In some implementations of the systems and methods disclosed herein, oneor more assumptions may be made. For example, it may be assumed that aPhysical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) is transmitted on a PCell only,and that no HARQ-ACK table may be utilized beyond what is defined in3GPP Releases 8, 9 and 10. It may also be assumed that the PCell keepsthe same timing as in 3GPP Releases 8, 9 and 10, which includes PDSCHHARQ-ACK timing, Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) scheduling andPUSCH HARQ-ACK timing.

As used herein, the term “configuration” may refer to an UL-DLconfiguration. An UL-DL configuration specifies whether each subframewithin a radio frame is an UL subframe, a DL subframe or a specialsubframe. More detail regarding UL-DL configurations is given inconnection with Table (1) below. A “PCell configuration” may refer to anUL-DL configuration that corresponds to a PCell. For example, a PCellconfiguration is an UL-DL configuration applied by the eNB and UE forcommunications in the PCell. The PCell configuration may be signaled toa UE by an eNB in a SystemInformationBlockType1 (SIB1). An “SCellconfiguration” may refer to an UL-DL configuration that corresponds toan SCell. For example, an SCell configuration is an UL-DL configurationapplied by the eNB and UE for communications in an SCell. An SCellconfiguration may be signaled to a UE by an eNB in a SIB1. In someimplementations, the PDSCH HARQ-ACK reports for an SCell may follow thePCell configuration if the set of DL subframes indicated by the SCellconfiguration is a subset of the DL subframes indicated by the PCellconfiguration.

PDSCH HARQ-ACK may be reported on the uplink. In one approach, the PCellconfiguration may be selected as a reference configuration. SCell PDSCHHARQ-ACK may be mapped to a PCell UL subframe allocation. An “ULsubframe allocation” may refer to one or more subframes that areconfigured for UL transmissions. For example, a PCell UL subframeallocation may specify one or more UL subframes in accordance with thePCell configuration. A “DL subframe allocation” may refer to one or moresubframes that are configured for DL transmissions. For example, a PCellDL subframe allocation may specify one or more DL subframes inaccordance with the PCell configuration.

The systems and methods disclosed herein provide approaches for PDSCHHARQ-ACK reporting on the uplink if the set of DL subframes indicated byan SCell configuration is not a subset of DL subframes indicated by aPCell configuration. However, the systems and methods disclosed hereindo not require the addition of any new HARQ-ACK timings to the existingPDSCH HARQ-ACK association table (as illustrated in Table (2) below).Instead, HARQ-ACK timing may be selected from the table so that thetiming can be applied to all possible SCell configurations.

The systems and methods disclosed herein support different TDD UL-DLconfigurations on different bands. Carrier aggregation with differentTDD configurations may be referred to as “inter-band carrieraggregation” herein.

The systems and methods disclosed herein provide approaches for PDSCHHARQ-ACK reporting on the uplink. No new HARQ-ACK timings may be addedto the existing PDSCH HARQ-ACK association table, even if the set of DLsubframes indicated by the SCell configuration is not a subset of the DLsubframes indicated by the PCell configuration. Instead, HARQ-ACK timingmay be selected from the table so that the timing can be applied to allpossible SCell configurations. The systems and methods disclosed hereinmay provide an approach that is compliant with all current Radio Layer 1(RAN1) agreements.

The SCell may follow the PCell timing in subframes where both the PCelland the SCell have a DL subframe. In a subframe where the SCell has a DLsubframe and the PCell has an UL subframe, the SCell timing may beselected from the existing HARQ-ACK table such that different subframesmay choose an association mapping from different UL-DL configurations.They also may be selected such that the HARQ-ACK bits are more evenlydistributed into all UL subframe allocations in the PCell.

The systems and methods disclosed herein may be applied to any number ofbands and to any UL-DL combinations. In accordance with the systems andmethods disclosed herein, the PCell configuration may be a referenceconfiguration. Furthermore, no higher layer signaling may be needed toprovide a reference configuration for the SCell.

If a PCell configuration specifies DL and an SCell configurationspecifies DL for a subframe, the SCell downlink PDSCH association withHARQ-ACK transmission may follow the PCell configuration. For example, aHARQ-ACK reporting subframe may be determined based on the PCellconfiguration (e.g., the PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations for the PCellconfiguration). If the PCell configuration specifies UL and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for a subframe, the SCell downlinkassociation with HARQ-ACK transmission may be selected from a set ofdownlink associations with HARQ-ACK transmission based on the subframenumber. For example, a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe may be determinedbased on a selected UL-DL configuration and a subframe number. Morespecifically, a selected UL-DL configuration may indicate one or moreselected PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations or timings, for example. Forclarity, a (PDSCH) HARQ-ACK reporting subframe is a subframe indicatedby an UL-DL configuration (e.g., PDSCH HARQ-ACK association) forreporting HARQ-ACK information.

In some implementations, the frame structure applied herein may conformto the LTE-TDD frame structure given in 3GPP TS 36.211. More detailregarding LTE-TDD frame structure is given below in connection with FIG.4. UL-DL configurations 0-6 are given below in Table (1) (from Table4.2-2 in 3GPP TS 36.211). UL-DL configurations with both 5 ms and 10 msdownlink-to-uplink switch-point periodicity may be supported. Inparticular, seven UL-DL configurations are specified in 3GPPspecifications, as shown in Table (1) below. In Table (1), “D” denotes adownlink subframe, “S” denotes a special subframe and “U” denotes an ULsubframe.

TABLE (1) UL-DL Downlink-to-Uplink Configuration Switch-Point SubframeNumber Number Periodicity 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 ms D S U U U D S U U U1 5 ms D S U U D D S U U D 2 5 ms D S U D D D S U D D 3 10 ms  D S U U UD D D D D 4 10 ms  D S U U D D D D D D 5 10 ms  D S U D D D D D D D 6 5ms D S U U U D S U U D

The UL-DL configuration may be part of a SIB1, defined by theInformation Element (IE) TDD-Config, which includes a subframeassignment and a specialSubframePatterns parameter. The SIB1 istransmitted (by an eNB, for example) on a broadcast control channel as alogical channel.

In Release-10 carrier aggregation, the same TDD UL-DL configuration isrequired for all aggregated cells. Furthermore, the TDD UL-DLconfiguration is obtained from a PCell only. As given in 3GPP TS 36.331,Section 5.2.2.1, for example, “[t]he UE applies the system informationacquisition and change monitoring procedures for the PCell only. For anSCell, E-UTRAN provides, via dedicated signalling, all systeminformation relevant for operation in RRC_CONNECTED when adding theSCell. Upon change of the relevant system information of a configuredSCell, E-UTRAN releases and subsequently adds the concerned SCell, whichmay be done with a single RRCConnectionReconfiguration message . . . .E-UTRAN may configure via dedicated signaling different parameter valuesthan the ones broadcast in the concerned SCell.”RadioResourceConfigCommonSCell is used for cell specific (common)information and RadioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell is used for UEspecific (dedicated) information. These are included in anRRCConnectionReconfiguration message. TDD-Config is a parameter to thatspecifies the TDD UL-DL configuration, which is informed by the SIB1 orRadioResourceConfigCommon on the PCell and may be referred to as PCellSIB1 configuration or PCell configuration and may be applied to allserving cells.

The systems and methods disclosed herein support different TDD UL-DLconfigurations on different bands in carrier aggregation. Carrieraggregation with different TDD configurations may also be referred to asinter-band carrier aggregation. Enabling carrier aggregation in aheterogeneous network scenario is one benefit of different TDD UL-DLconfigurations. In a heterogeneous network, a pico-cell in one band mayhave a very different UL-DL traffic load than a macro-cell in anotherband, thus requiring different UL-DL configurations. The PCell may beconfigured with the macro-cell or the pico-cell, for example. The TDDUL-DL configuration for each SCell may be informed byRadioResourceConfigCommonSCell, which is also referred to as SCell SIB1configuration or SCell configuration.

Carrier aggregation may assume that the same eNB scheduler managescommunication resources for the PCell and SCell(s). Thus, the schedulermay know the actual configuration of each cell. The UEs may be informed(by an eNB, for example) of the actual UL-DL configuration of eachaggregated cell, particularly if a cell has a different UL-DLconfiguration from the PCell.

In some implementations, the systems and methods disclosed herein mayoperate in accordance with one or more procedures that are given asfollows. A UE may be informed (by an eNB, for example) of an UL-DLconfiguration for each aggregated CC in order to support different TDDUL-DL configurations on different bands. CCs in the same band may havethe same UL-DL configuration. Additionally or alternatively, no newUL-DL configurations may be utilized.

A PUCCH may only be transmitted on the PCell. In some implementations,no new HARQ-ACK timing tables beyond those already defined in 3GPPReleases 8, 9 and 10 may be utilized. However, a new HARQ-ACK timingtable may be utilized if there are cases where additional timing isneeded or is beneficial.

The PCell may keep the same timing as given in 3GPP Releases 8, 9 and10, which includes PDSCH HARQ-ACK timing, PUSCH scheduling and PUSCHHARQ-ACK timing. Furthermore, the SCell may follow the PCell SIB1configuration if the set of DL subframes indicated by the SCell SIB1configuration is a subset of the DL subframes indicated by the PCellSIB1 configuration. PCell SIB1 configuration may be referred to as a“PCell configuration,” and SCell SIB1 configuration may be referred toas “SCell configuration” for simplicity.

More detail regarding PDSCH HARQ-ACK reporting with inter-band carrieraggregation with different TDD configurations in accordance with thesystems and methods disclosed herein is given hereafter. PDSCH HARQ-ACKis transmitted on uplink (e.g., in an UL subframe) by either a PUCCH orPUSCH. In 3GPP Release-8, the ACK/NACK bits from a downlink associationset are reported on a PUCCH or on a PUSCH if a PUSCH is allocated forthe UE in the UL subframe. The downlink association set depends on theTDD UL-DL configuration, as given in Table (2) below (from Table10.1.3.1-1 of TS 36.213). In Release-10 with carrier aggregation, theACK/NACK bits of multiple serving cells are multiplexed and/or bundled,and are reported on the PCell only with a PUCCH or PUSCH transmission.It should be noted that the table of downlink association set index forTDD (Table (2)) may be referred to as a PDSCH HARQ-ACK table, PDSCHHARQ-ACK association table or PDSCH HARQ-ACK mapping table. It shouldalso be noted that PDSCH HARQ-ACK timing may be based on one or morePDSCH HARQ-ACK associations. The indexes in the association set may bereferred to as entries of the PDSCH HARQ-ACK table. A downlinkassociation set index for TDD may be defined in Table (2) as K:{k₀, k₁,. . . , k_(M-1)}, where M is a number of elements in the set K.

TABLE (2) UL-DL Configuration Subframe n Number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 —— 6 — 4 — — 6 — 4 1 — — 7, 6 4 — — — 7, 6 4 — 2 — — 8, 7, 4, 6 — — — —8, 7, — — 4, 6 3 — — 7, 6, 11 6, 5 5, 4 — — — — — 4 — — 12, 8, 7, 11 6,5, — — — — — — 4, 7 5 — — 13, 12, 9, 8, 7, 5, — — — — — — — 4, 11, 6 6 —— 7 7 5 — — 7 7 —

PDSCH HARQ-ACK may be reported on the uplink. PDSCH HARQ-ACK reportingmay be applied to full duplex and half duplex operation. In oneapproach, the PCell configuration is always used as a referenceconfiguration. SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK may be mapped to PCell UL subframeallocations with a regional mapping. This approach ensures that the sametiming is maintained by PCell.

In a first procedure, all subframes in an SCell may follow a referenceconfiguration. More detail regarding the first procedure is given inconnection with FIG. 8 below. In a second procedure, SCell timing may bedetermined on subframe basis. In this second procedure, the timing maybe determined based on the type of subframe. In non-conflictingsubframes where both PCell and SCell have DL subframe allocations, theSCell may follow the PCell timing. Thus, the HARQ-ACK of PDSCHs of thePCell and the SCell in the same DL subframe may be reported in the sameUL subframe. This is consistent with cross-carrier scheduling such thatthe HARQ-ACK feedback of cross-carrier scheduled subframes areassociated with the same timing as the scheduling cell. In conflictingsubframes where the PCell configuration indicates UL and the SCellconfiguration indicates DL, the subframe on the SCell may be mapped to aPCell UL subframe.

Details regarding a first approach in the second procedure for mappingthe SCell subframe to a PCell UL subframe are given as follows. In thisfirst approach, the conflicting subframes may follow a general rule andmap the PDSCH HARQ-ACK into the nearest UL subframe on PCell that is atleast 4 transmission time intervals (TTIs) away from the conflicting DLsubframe on SCell. For example, for a conflicting subframe with PCell ULand an SCell DL subframe allocation in subframe number n, the HARQ-ACKis mapped to the first UL subframe on PCell that is greater or equal to(n+4). In some cases, this may introduce new association timing that isnot included in the existing timing table. It may also lead to a moreunbalanced HARQ-ACK payload in different UL reports.

Details regarding a second approach in the second procedure for mappingthe SCell subframe to a PCell UL subframe are given as follows. In thissecond approach, the conflicting subframes may follow a referenceconfiguration. The reference configuration may be derived as in thefirst procedure described below in connection with FIG. 8. Additionallyor alternatively, the reference configuration may be signaled by higherlayer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling). Thissecond approach also faces similar issues as the first proceduredescribed above. For the same conflicting subframe, the mapping may bedifferent for different SCell configurations. This second approach maystill have a crossover PDSCH HARQ-ACK report. Higher layer signaling ofa reference configuration may cause delay and service interruption withSCell activation and deactivation. This may also lead to a moreunbalanced HARQ-ACK payload in different UL subframes.

More detail regarding a third approach in the second procedure is givenhereafter. In this third approach, a regional mapping may be applied.The PCell configuration may be applied as the reference configuration,and all PCell timing may be included in the regional mapping group. Apotentially conflicting subframe with PCell UL and SCell DL may bemapped to a corresponding UL subframe on the PCell by a regional group.Thus, a superset mapping table is derived so that it can be applicableto all cells and TDD UL-DL configurations. This mapping approach can beapplied to any number of TDD UL-DL configurations and any combination ofconfigurations. However, in some cases, it introduces new associationtiming that is not included in the existing timing table.

The systems and methods described herein provide a fourth approach inthe second procedure for mapping the conflicting subframes with a PCellUL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation. In thisfourth approach, only the PCell configuration may be used as thereference configuration.

With a given PCell configuration, for each potentially conflictingsubframe with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframeallocation, an association mapping may be derived from all possibleSCell configurations. For a given PCell configuration, the potentiallyconflicting subframes with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCellDL subframe allocation are all conflicting subframes between the givenPCell configuration and the TDD UL-DL configuration five (e.g., theconfiguration with minimum UL subframe allocations).

Thus, for any SCell configuration, the set of conflicting subframes witha PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation maybe a subset of the potentially conflicting subframes with a PCell ULsubframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation. Moreover, theset of potentially conflicting subframes (e.g., possibly conflictingsubframes) with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframeallocation may be derived for each periodicity (e.g., 5 ms and 10 ms) ofTDD UL-DL configurations. In a 5 ms periodicity case, the set ofpotentially conflicting subframes with a PCell UL subframe allocationand an SCell DL subframe allocation may be derived based onconfiguration zero (e.g., “0”) on the PCell and configuration five(e.g., “5”) on the SCell. In a 10 ms periodicity case, the set ofpotentially conflicting subframes with a PCell UL subframe allocationand an SCell DL subframe allocation may be derived by configurationthree (e.g., “3”) on the PCell and configuration five on the SCell.

For each potentially conflicting subframe with a PCell UL subframeallocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation, the association mappingmay be selected from the existing HARQ-ACK association table (e.g.,Table (2) above). The selection may be based on (e.g., optimized basedon) one or more of HARQ-ACK payload balancing and HARQ-ACK delay. Theselected association mapping may be applied to all SCell configurations,if applicable. The associations of different potentially conflictingsubframes may be selected from different TDD configurations. Since thisassociation mapping is fixed to all SCell configurations, no referenceconfiguration and no higher layer signaling may be needed.

Table (3) below lists potentially conflicting subframes with a PCell ULsubframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation for TDD PCellwith 5 ms periodicity. Table (3) also lists the existing associationsand examples of selected UL-DL configurations (e.g., PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociations). Table (4) lists the applicability of the conflictingsubframe with different PCell configurations with 5 ms periodicity.Table (5) shows an example of a selected downlink association index forpotentially conflicting subframes when a PCell configuration has a 5 msperiodicity. More detail is given in connection with FIG. 9 below.

TABLE (3) Potentially Conflicting Example of Subframes Selected UL-DL(PCell UL, Existing Table PDSCH Configurations SCell DL) HARQ-ACKAssociations (Associations) Subframe 3 Subframe 7 (configuration 2)Follow configuration 2: Subframe 2 of the next radio report on subframe7 frame (configuration 5) Subframe 4 Subframe 2 of the next radio Followconfiguration 1: frame (configurations 2, 4, 5) report on subframe 8Subframe 8 (configuration 1) Subframe 7 Subframe 2 of the next radioFollow configuration 5: frame (configuration 5) report on subframe 2 ofthe Subframe 3 of the next radio next radio frame frame (configurations3, 4) Subframe 8 Subframe 2 of the next radio Follow configurations 3frame (configurations 2, 5) and 4: report on subframe 3 Subframe 3 ofthe next radio of the next radio frame frame (configurations 3, 4)Subframe 9 Subframe 3 of the next radio Follow configurations 3 frame(configurations 1, 4) and 6: report on subframe 4 Subframe 4 of the nextradio of the next radio frame frame (configurations 3, 6) Subframe 7 ofthe next radio frame (configuration 2) Subframe 2 of the radio frameafter the next radio frame (configuration 5)

Table (4) below illustrates the applicability of potentially conflictingsubframes with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframeallocation for a TDD PCell with 5 ms periodicity. For convenience,“Configuration” is abbreviated as “Config” in Table (4). In Table (4),“Y” denotes “Yes” (that potentially conflicting subframes with a PCellUL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation areapplicable for a TDD PCell with 5 ms periodicity).

TABLE (4) PCell SCell Config Config Subframe 3 Subframe 4 Subframe 7Subframe 8 Subframe 9 0 5 Y Y Y Y Y 4 Y Y Y Y 3 Y Y Y 2 Y Y Y Y 1 Y Y 6Y 1 5 Y Y Y 4 Y Y 3 Y Y 2 Y Y 2 5 Y 6 5 Y Y Y Y 4 Y Y Y 3 Y Y 1 Y 2 Y YY

Table (5) below illustrates a selected downlink association index forpotentially conflicting subframes for a TDD PCell with 5 ms periodicity.In particular, the index values k are given for each UL-DL configurationnumber and for each subframe n. In this case, the index value kindicates a difference in number of subframes between subframes having aHARQ-ACK association. Furthermore, the row denoted “HARQ-ACK associationto PDSCH of potentially conflicting subframe” gives the actual subframenumber of the subframe associated with the subframe n for HARQ-ACK.Selected index values for k are denoted with an asterisk (*). Forexample, subframe n=2 in UL-DL configuration 5 has a selected indexvalue k=5 in accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein.This indicates that subframe n=2 in UL-DL configuration five has aHARQ-ACK association to the PDSCH of subframe 7 of the last (e.g.,preceding) radio frame, which is a potentially conflicting subframe.

TABLE (5) UL-DL Configuration Subframe n Number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 —— 6 — 4 — — 6 — 4 1 — — 7, 6 4 — — — 7, 6 4* — 2 — — 8, 7, 4, 6 — — — —8, 7, — — 4*, 6 3 — — 7, 6, 11 6, 5* 5*, 4 — — — — — 4 — — 12, 8, 6, 5*,— — — — — — 7, 11 4, 7 5 — — 13, 12, — — — — — — — 9, 8, 7, 5*, 4, 11, 66 — — 7 7 5* — — 7 7 — HARQ-ACK 7 of 8 of 9 of 3 of 4 of association tolast last last same same PDSCH of potentially radio radio radio radioradio conflicting subframe frame frame frame frame frame

When the PCell has a periodicity of 10 ms, only subframe 2 and subframe3 may be potentially conflicting subframes with a PCell UL subframeallocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation as listed in Table (6).Table (7) lists the applicability of the potentially conflictingsubframes for PCell configurations with 10 ms periodicity. Table (8)illustrates one example of the selected downlink association index forpotentially conflicting subframes when a PCell has 10 ms periodicity. Insome implementations, to better balance the HARQ-ACK payload, anexception case may be defined if configuration 3 is configured on thePCell. Instead of mapping to the UL subframe 2 of the next radio frame,the PDSCH transmissions in potentially conflicting subframe 3 andsubframe 4 may be associated with the UL subframe 3 and subframe 4 ofthe next radio frame on PCell.

In some implementations of the systems and methods disclosed herein, oneor more of the following rules may be applied for a PCell configuration,for any SCell TDD configuration and for combinations of configurations.An SCell may follow the PCell timing in non-conflicting subframes (e.g.,subframes where both the PCell and the SCell have DL subframeallocations). In a conflicting subframe where the PCell has DL subframeallocation and an SCell has UL subframe allocation, no PDSCH HARQ-ACK isneeded for the SCell. Thus, PDSCH HARQ-ACK on the PCell follows its owntiming.

In a conflicting subframe with a PCell UL subframe allocation and anSCell DL subframe allocation, the selected PDSCH HARQ-ACK associationmay be applied if applicable as listed in Table (4) and Table (7). Sincethe same association is used for a given subframe and for all SCellconfigurations, there may be no need to signal an extra referenceconfiguration. The association mapping is independent of the SCellconfiguration and combinations of TDD UL-DL configurations.

The selected associations in the tables provided herein illustrateexamples of selecting PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations from existing tableentries. Other associations may also be selected instead of the exampleselected associations illustrated. In one case, for example, theselected associations from existing PDSCH HARQ-ACK table may be appliedto all SCell configurations and combinations of configurations. Inanother case, for example, the selected associations for an SCellconfiguration may depend on the combination of PCell and SCellconfigurations. Thus, the selected associations of one PCell and SCellcombination may be different from another PCell and SCell combination.However, as long as the selected associations are specified for eachcombination and are used whenever applicable, there is no need for extrahigher layer signaling, such as RRC signaling.

Table (6) below illustrates potentially conflicting subframes with aPCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation for TDDPCell with 10 ms periodicity.

TABLE (6) Potentially Conflicting Subframes (PCell UL, SCell DL) Exampleof Selected Associations Subframe 3 Follow configuration 5: report onsubframe 2 of the next radio frame Subframe 4 Follow configurations 4and 5: report on subframe 2 of the next radio frame

Table (7) below illustrates the applicability of potentially conflictingsubframes with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframeallocation for a TDD PCell with 10 ms periodicity. In Table (7), “Y”denotes “Yes” (that potentially conflicting subframes with a PCell ULsubframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation are applicablefor a TDD PCell with 10 ms periodicity).

TABLE (7) PCell SCell Configuration Configuration Subframe 3 Subframe 43 5 Y Y 4 Y 2 Y Y 1 Y 4 5 Y 2 Y

Table (8) below illustrates one example of a selected downlinkassociation index for potentially conflicting subframes for TDD PCellwith 10 ms periodicity. In particular, the index values k are given foreach UL-DL configuration number and for each subframe n. In this case,the index value k indicates a difference in number of subframes betweensubframes having a HARQ-ACK association. Furthermore, the row denoted“HARQ-ACK association to PDSCH of potentially conflicting subframe”gives the actual subframe number of the subframe associated with thesubframe n for HARQ-ACK. Selected index values for k are denoted with anasterisk (*). For example, subframe n=2 in UL-DL configuration 4 has adesignated index value k=8 in accordance with the systems and methodsdisclosed herein. This indicates that subframe n=2 in UL-DLconfiguration 4 has a HARQ-ACK association to the PDSCH of subframe 4 ofthe last (e.g., preceding) radio frame, which is a potentiallyconflicting subframe.

TABLE (8) UL-DL Configuration Subframe n Number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 —— 7, 6, 11 6, 5 5, 4 — — — — — 4 — — 12, 8*, 7, 11 6, 5, — — — — — — 4,7 5 — — 13, 12, 9*, 8*, 7, 5, — — — — — — — 4, 11, 6 HARQ-ACK Subframes3 and 4 association to of the last radio PDSCH of frame potentiallyconflicting subframe

In some implementations, the systems and methods disclosed herein mayprovide one or more of the benefits described as follows. The PCell maybe the only reference configuration. Thus, no higher layer signaling maybe needed to provide a reference configuration for an SCell.Associations may be selected from an existing PDSCH HARQ-ACK timingtable. Accordingly, no new PDSCH HARQ-ACK timing may need to be defined.Simple and unified association mapping may be provided based on thePCell configuration only. More specifically, the mapping may be fixedbased on the PCell periodicity only. The systems and methods disclosedherein may be consistent with cross-carrier scheduling concepts oftiming following the scheduling cell. All PCell ULs may be utilized.Furthermore, the HARQ-ACK payload may be well balanced in all ULsubframes on the PCell. The systems and methods disclosed herein may beapplied to any number of bands and any UL-DL combinations. The PCell andSCell may have the same or different periodicities. The systems andmethods disclosed herein may be applied to both full duplex and halfduplex operations. No mapping change may be needed with SCell activationor deactivation. Furthermore, no mapping change with SCellre-configuration may be needed.

Various examples of the systems and methods disclosed herein are nowdescribed with reference to the Figures, where like reference numbersmay indicate functionally similar elements. The systems and methods asgenerally described and illustrated in the Figures herein could bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different implementations.Thus, the following more detailed description of severalimplementations, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limitscope, as claimed, but is merely representative of the systems andmethods.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of one or moreeNBs 160 and one or more UEs 102 in which systems and methods forsending and receiving HARQ information may be implemented. The one ormore UEs 102 communicate with one or more eNBs 160 using one or moreantennas 122 a-n. For example, a UE 102 transmits electromagneticsignals to the eNB 160 and receives electromagnetic signals from the eNB160 using the one or more antennas 122 a-n. The eNB 160 communicateswith the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180 a-n.

The UE 102 and the eNB 160 may use one or more channels 119, 121 tocommunicate with each other. For example, a UE 102 may transmitinformation or data to the eNB 160 using one or more uplink channels121. Examples of uplink channels 121 include a PUCCH and a PUSCH, etc.The one or more eNBs 160 may also transmit information or data to theone or more UEs 102 using one or more downlink channels 119, forinstance. Examples of downlink channels 119 include a PDCCH, a PDSCH,etc. Other kinds of channels may be used.

Each of the one or more UEs 102 may include one or more transceivers118, one or more demodulators 114, one or more decoders 108, one or moreencoders 150, one or more modulators 154, a data buffer 104 and a UEoperations module 124. For example, one or more reception and/ortransmission paths may be implemented in the UE 102. For convenience,only a single transceiver 118, decoder 108, demodulator 114, encoder 150and modulator 154 are illustrated in the UE 102, though multipleparallel elements (e.g., transceivers 118, decoders 108, demodulators114, encoders 150 and modulators 154) may be implemented.

The transceiver 118 may include one or more receivers 120 and one ormore transmitters 158. The one or more receivers 120 may receive signalsfrom the eNB 160 using one or more antennas 122 a-n. For example, thereceiver 120 may receive and downconvert signals to produce one or morereceived signals 116. The one or more received signals 116 may beprovided to a demodulator 114. The one or more transmitters 158 maytransmit signals to the eNB 160 using one or more antennas 122 a-n. Forexample, the one or more transmitters 158 may upconvert and transmit oneor more modulated signals 156.

The demodulator 114 may demodulate the one or more received signals 116to produce one or more demodulated signals 112. The one or moredemodulated signals 112 may be provided to the decoder 108. The UE 102may use the decoder 108 to decode signals. The decoder 108 may produceone or more decoded signals 106, 110. For example, a first UE-decodedsignal 106 may comprise received payload data, which may be stored in adata buffer 104. A second UE-decoded signal 110 may comprise overheaddata and/or control data. For example, the second UE-decoded signal 110may provide data that may be used by the UE operations module 124 toperform one or more operations.

As used herein, the term “module” may mean that a particular element orcomponent may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination ofhardware and software. However, it should be noted that any elementdenoted as a “module” herein may alternatively be implemented inhardware. For example, the UE operations module 124 may be implementedin hardware, software or a combination of both.

In general, the UE operations module 124 may enable the UE 102 tocommunicate with the one or more eNBs 160. The UE operations module 124may include UL-DL configurations 128, a UE UL-DL configurationdetermination module 130, a HARQ-ACK generation module 132 and a UEreporting subframe determination module 134.

The UL-DL configurations 128 may specify a set of UL-DL configurationsthat may be used for communication between the UE 102 and the eNB 160.Examples of UL-DL configurations include the UL-DL configurations 0-6illustrated in Table (1) above. The UL-DL configurations 128 may specifyUL and DL subframes for communication with the eNB(s) 160. For example,the UL-DL configurations 128 may indicate DL subframes for the UE 102 toreceive information from the eNB 160 and may indicate UL subframes forthe UE 102 to transmit information to the eNB 160. For propercommunication on a cell, the UE 102 and the eNB 160 may apply the sameUL-DL configuration 128 on the same cell. However, different UL-DLconfigurations 128 may be applied on different cells (e.g., PCell andSCell(s)).

The UL-DL configurations 128 may also indicate PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociations. A PDSCH HARQ-ACK association may specify a particular(PDSCH HARQ-ACK) timing for sending HARQ-ACK information correspondingto a PDSCH. For example, the HARQ-ACK generation module 132 may generateHARQ-ACK (e.g., ACK/NACK) information corresponding to a PDSCH based onwhether data in the PDSCH was correctly received or not. A PDSCHHARQ-ACK association may specify a reporting subframe in which the UE102 reports (e.g., transmits) the HARQ-ACK information corresponding tothe PDSCH. The reporting subframe may be determined based on thesubframe that includes the PDSCH.

The UE UL-DL configuration determination module 130 may determine whichof the UL-DL configuration(s) 128 for the UE 102 to apply for one ormore cells. For example, the UE 102 may receive one or more SIB1indicating UL-DL configuration(s) 128 for a PCell and for one or moreSCells. For instance, a PCell and an SCell may be utilized in carrieraggregation. The UE UL-DL configuration determination module 130 maydetermine which UL-DL configuration 128 is assigned to the PCell andwhich UL-DL configuration 128 is assigned to the SCell. The UL-DLconfigurations 128 for the PCell and SCell(s) may be the same ordifferent.

The UE reporting subframe determination module 134 may determine areporting subframe for sending HARQ-ACK information. For example, the UEreporting subframe determination module 134 may determine a HARQ-ACKreporting subframe in which the UE 102 sends SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACKinformation (e.g., PDSCH HARQ-ACK information corresponding to anSCell).

The HARQ-ACK reporting subframe determination may be based on whether aconflicting subframe occurs between an UL-DL configuration 128corresponding to a PCell (e.g., PCell configuration) and an UL-DLconfiguration 128 corresponding to an SCell (e.g., SCell configuration).For example, the UE reporting subframe determination module 134 maydetermine whether a PCell configuration specifies UL and an SCellconfiguration specifies DL for a subframe or whether the PCellconfiguration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe.

If the PCell and SCell both specify DL for a subframe (that includes anSCell PDSCH, for example), then the UE reporting subframe determinationmodule 134 may determine a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on thePCell configuration (for sending SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information, forexample). If the PCell specifies UL and the SCell specifies DL for asubframe (that includes an SCell PDSCH, for example), then the UEreporting subframe determination module 134 may determine a HARQ-ACKreporting subframe based on a selected UL-DL configuration 128 and asubframe number corresponding to the subframe including the PDSCH, forexample. For instance, Table (2) above (e.g., the PDSCH HARQ-ACK(association) table) gives the location of a corresponding PDSCH by theindex set K:{k₀, k₁, . . . , k_(M-1)}, for a subframe (e.g., ULsubframe) number n, where the HARQ-ACK of a PDSCH in subframe n-k (e.g.,n-k₁) is reported in UL subframe n. The UE 102 may send the SCellHARQ-ACK information in the determined HARQ-ACK reporting subframe.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 148 to the one ormore receivers 120. For example, the UE operations module 124 may informthe receiver(s) 120 when or when not to receive transmissions based onthe UL-DL configurations 128.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 138 to thedemodulator 114. For example, the UE operations module 124 may informthe demodulator 114 of a modulation pattern anticipated fortransmissions from the eNB 160.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 136 to the decoder108. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the decoder108 of an anticipated encoding for transmissions from the eNB 160.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 142 to the encoder150. The information 142 may include data to be encoded and/orinstructions for encoding. For example, the UE operations module 124 mayinstruct the encoder 150 to encode transmission data 146 and/or controlinformation 142.

The encoder 150 may encode transmission data 146 and/or otherinformation 142 provided by the UE operations module 124. For example,encoding the data 146 and/or other information 142 may involve errordetection and/or correction coding, mapping data to space, time and/orfrequency resources for transmission, multiplexing, etc. The encoder 150may provide encoded data 152 to the modulator 154.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 144 to themodulator 154. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform themodulator 154 of a modulation type (e.g., constellation mapping) to beused for transmissions to the eNB 160. The modulator 154 may modulatethe encoded data 152 to provide one or more modulated signals 156 to theone or more transmitters 158.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 140 to the one ormore transmitters 158. This information 140 may include instructions forthe one or more transmitters 158. For example, the UE operations module124 may instruct the one or more transmitters 158 when to transmit asignal to the eNB 160. In some configurations, this may be based on aUL-DL configuration 128. For instance, the one or more transmitters 158may transmit during an UL subframe. The one or more transmitters 158 mayupconvert and transmit the modulated signal(s) 156 to one or more eNBs160.

The eNB 160 may include one or more transceivers 176, one or moredemodulators 172, one or more decoders 166, one or more encoders 109,one or more modulators 113, a data buffer 162 and an eNB operationsmodule 182. For example, one or more reception and/or transmission pathsmay be implemented in an eNB 160. For convenience, only a singletransceiver 176, decoder 166, demodulator 172, encoder 109 and modulator113 are illustrated in the eNB 160, though multiple parallel elements(e.g., transceivers 176, decoders 166, demodulators 172, encoders 109and modulators 113) may be implemented.

The transceiver 176 may include one or more receivers 178 and one ormore transmitters 117. The one or more receivers 178 may receive signalsfrom the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180 a-n. For example, thereceiver 178 may receive and downconvert signals to produce one or morereceived signals 174. The one or more received signals 174 may beprovided to a demodulator 172. The one or more transmitters 117 maytransmit signals to the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180 a-n. Forexample, the one or more transmitters 117 may upconvert and transmit oneor more modulated signals 115.

The demodulator 172 may demodulate the one or more received signals 174to produce one or more demodulated signals 170. The one or moredemodulated signals 170 may be provided to the decoder 166. The eNB 160may use the decoder 166 to decode signals. The decoder 166 may produceone or more decoded signals 164, 168. For example, a first eNB-decodedsignal 164 may comprise received payload data, which may be stored in adata buffer 162. A second eNB-decoded signal 168 may comprise overheaddata and/or control data. For example, the second eNB-decoded signal 168may provide data that may be used by the eNB operations module 182 toperform one or more operations.

In general, the eNB operations module 182 may enable the eNB 160 tocommunicate with the one or more UEs 102. The eNB operations module 182may include UL-DL configurations 194, an eNB reporting subframedetermination module 198 and an eNB UL-DL configuration determinationmodule 196.

The UL-DL configurations 194 may specify a set of UL-DL configurationsthat may be used for communication between the eNB 160 and the UE(s)102. Examples of UL-DL configurations 194 include the UL-DLconfigurations 0-6 illustrated in Table (1) above. The UL-DLconfigurations 194 may specify UL and DL subframes for communicationwith the UE(s) 102. For example, the UL-DL configurations 194 mayindicate DL subframes for the eNB 160 to send information to the UE(s)102 and may indicate UL subframes for the eNB 160 to receive informationfrom the UE(s) 102. For proper communication on a cell, the UE 102 andthe eNB 160 may apply the same UL-DL configuration 194 on the same cell.However, different UL-DL configurations 194 may be applied on differentcells (e.g., PCell and SCell(s)).

The UL-DL configurations 194 may also indicate PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociations. A PDSCH HARQ-ACK association may specify a particular(PDSCH HARQ-ACK) timing for receiving HARQ-ACK information correspondingto a PDSCH. A PDSCH HARQ-ACK association may specify a reportingsubframe in which the UE 102 reports (e.g., transmits) the HARQ-ACKinformation corresponding to the PDSCH to the eNB 160. The reportingsubframe may be determined based on the subframe that includes the PDSCHsent by the eNB 160.

The eNB UL-DL configuration determination module 196 may determine whichof the UL-DL configuration(s) 194 for the UE 102 to apply for one ormore cells. For example, the eNB 160 may send one or more SIB1indicating UL-DL configuration(s) 194 for a PCell and for one or moreSCells. For instance, a PCell and an SCell may be utilized in carrieraggregation. The eNB UL-DL configuration determination module 196 mayassign UL-DL configuration(s) 194 to the PCell and to the SCell. The eNB160 may signal one or more of these assignments to a UE 102. The UL-DLconfigurations 194 for the PCell and SCell(s) may be the same ordifferent.

The eNB reporting subframe determination module 198 may determine areporting subframe for receiving HARQ-ACK information. For example, theeNB reporting subframe determination module 198 may determine a HARQ-ACKreporting subframe in which the eNB 160 receives SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACKinformation (e.g., PDSCH HARQ-ACK information corresponding to an SCell)from a UE 102.

The HARQ-ACK reporting subframe determination may be based on whether aconflicting subframe occurs between an UL-DL configuration 194corresponding to a PCell (e.g., PCell configuration) and an UL-DLconfiguration 194 corresponding to an SCell (e.g., SCell configuration).For example, the eNB reporting subframe determination module 198 maydetermine whether a PCell configuration specifies UL and an SCellconfiguration specifies DL for a subframe or whether the PCellconfiguration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe.

If the PCell and SCell both specify DL for a subframe (that includes anSCell PDSCH, for example), then the eNB reporting subframe determinationmodule 198 may determine a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on thePCell configuration (for receiving SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information, forexample). If the PCell specifies UL and the SCell specifies DL for asubframe (that includes an SCell PDSCH, for example), then the eNBreporting subframe determination module 198 may determine a HARQ-ACKreporting subframe based on a selected UL-DL configuration 194 and asubframe number corresponding to the subframe including the PDSCH, forexample. The eNB 160 may receive the SCell HARQ-ACK information from theUE 102 in the determined HARQ-ACK reporting subframe.

The eNB operations module 182 may provide information 190 to the one ormore receivers 178. For example, the eNB operations module 182 mayinform the receiver(s) 178 when or when not to receive transmissionsbased on a UL-DL configuration 194 for a given cell.

The eNB operations module 182 may provide information 188 to thedemodulator 172. For example, the eNB operations module 182 may informthe demodulator 172 of a modulation pattern anticipated fortransmissions from the UE(s) 102.

The eNB operations module 182 may provide information 186 to the decoder166. For example, the eNB operations module 182 may inform the decoder166 of an anticipated encoding for transmissions from the UE(s) 102.

The eNB operations module 182 may provide information 101 to the encoder109. The information 101 may include data to be encoded and/orinstructions for encoding. For example, the eNB operations module 182may instruct the encoder 109 to encode transmission data 105 and/orcontrol information 101.

The encoder 109 may encode transmission data 105 and/or otherinformation 101 provided by the eNB operations module 182. For example,encoding the data 105 and/or other information 101 may involve errordetection and/or correction coding, mapping data to space, time and/orfrequency resources for transmission, multiplexing, etc. The encoder 109may provide encoded data 111 to the modulator 113. The transmission data105 may include network data to be relayed to the UE 102.

The eNB operations module 182 may provide information 103 to themodulator 113. This information 103 may include instructions for themodulator 113. For example, the eNB operations module 182 may inform themodulator 113 of a modulation type (e.g., constellation mapping) to beused for transmissions to the UE(s) 102. The modulator 113 may modulatethe encoded data 111 to provide one or more modulated signals 115 to theone or more transmitters 117.

The eNB operations module 182 may provide information 192 to the one ormore transmitters 117. This information 192 may include instructions forthe one or more transmitters 117. For example, the eNB operations module182 may instruct the one or more transmitters 117 when to (or when notto) transmit a signal to the UE(s) 102. In some implementations, thismay be based on an UL-DL configuration 194. The one or more transmitters117 may upconvert and transmit the modulated signal(s) 115 to one ormore UEs 102.

It should be noted that a DL subframe may be transmitted from the eNB160 to one or more UEs 102 and that an UL subframe may be transmittedfrom one or more UEs 102 to the eNB 160. Furthermore, both the eNB 160and the one or more UEs 102 may transmit data in a standard specialsubframe.

It should be noted that one or more of the elements or parts thereofincluded in the eNB(s) 160 and UE(s) 102 may be implemented in hardware.For example, one or more of these elements or parts thereof may beimplemented as a chip, circuitry or hardware components, etc. It shouldalso be noted that one or more of the functions or methods describedherein may be implemented in and/or performed using hardware. Forexample, one or more of the methods described herein may be implementedin and/or realized using a chipset, an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) or integratedcircuit, etc.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one configuration of a method 200for sending HARQ information for carrier aggregation. A UE 102 maydetermine 202 a PCell configuration. For example, the UE 102 may receivea SIB1 and determine an UL-DL configuration corresponding to (e.g.,assigned to, to be applied to) a PCell based on the SIB1.

The UE 102 may determine 204 an SCell configuration. For example, the UE102 may receive a SIB1 and determine an UL-DL configurationcorresponding to (e.g., assigned to, to be applied to) an SCell based onthe SIB1.

The UE 102 may determine 206 whether the PCell configuration specifiesUL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for a subframe or whetherthe PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configurationspecifies DL for the subframe. For a particular subframe, for example,the UE 102 may determine whether the PCell configuration and SCellconfiguration both specify DL for the subframe or whether the PCellconfiguration specifies UL while the SCell configuration specifies DLfor the subframe.

If the PCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for the subframe, then the UE 102 maygenerate 214 SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information corresponding to thesubframe. For example, the UE 102 may generate 214 HARQ-ACK information(e.g., ACK/NACK) based on whether data corresponding to a PDSCH in thesubframe was correctly received or not.

The UE 102 may determine 216 a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on thePCell configuration. For example, if both the PCell configuration andthe SCell configuration specify DL for the subframe, then the UE 102 mayfollow a PDSCH HARQ-ACK association (e.g., PDSCH HARQ-ACK timing)specified by the PCell configuration. The PDSCH HARQ-ACK association mayindicate the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe. More detail is given below.

If the PCell configuration specifies UL for the subframe and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for the subframe, then the UE 102 maygenerate 208 SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information corresponding to thesubframe. For example, the UE 102 may generate 208 HARQ-ACK information(e.g., ACK/NACK) based on whether data corresponding to a PDSCH in thesubframe was correctly received or not.

The UE 102 may determine 210 a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on aselected UL-DL configuration and a subframe number. For example, if thePCell configuration specifies UL and the SCell configuration specifiesDL for the subframe, then the UE 102 may follow a selected PDSCHHARQ-ACK association (e.g., PDSCH HARQ-ACK timing) specified by aselected UL-DL configuration (based on a subframe number, for example).For instance, a selected UL-DL configuration may be a UL-DLconfiguration that is selected from Table (1). The selected PDSCHHARQ-ACK association may be an association that is selected from Table(2). The PDSCH HARQ-ACK association may indicate the HARQ-ACK reportingsubframe. The selected UL-DL configuration may be predetermined orselected dynamically. More detail is given below.

The UE 102 may send 212 the SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information in theHARQ-ACK reporting subframe. For example, the UE 102 may send 212 theSCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information on the determined 210, 216 HARQ-ACKreporting subframe (on the PCell, for instance). This may occur whetherthe PCell configuration and the SCell configuration both specify DL orwhether the PCell configuration specifies UL and the SCell configurationspecifies DL for the subframe. It should be noted that the SCell(s) andthe PCell may be aggregated carriers (for concurrent utilization).

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating one configuration of a method 300for receiving HARQ information for carrier aggregation. An eNB 160 maydetermine 302 a PCell configuration corresponding to a UE 102. Forexample, the eNB 160 may determine 302 an UL-DL configuration to beapplied to a PCell. In some cases, this determination 302 may be basedon network traffic (e.g., a proportion of UL to DL traffic),predetermined settings, etc. The eNB 160 may send a SIB1 to the UE 102that indicates the PCell configuration. Additionally or alternatively,the eNB 160 may coordinate with another eNB 160 to determine 304 a PCellconfiguration and/or indicate the PCell configuration to the UE 102.

The eNB 160 may determine 304 an SCell configuration corresponding tothe UE. For example, the eNB 160 may determine an UL-DL configuration tobe applied to the SCell. In some cases, this determination 304 may bebased on network traffic (e.g., a proportion of UL to DL traffic),predetermined settings, etc. The eNB 160 may send a SIB1 to the UE 102that indicates the SCell configuration. Additionally or alternatively,the eNB 160 may coordinate with another eNB 160 to determine 304 anSCell configuration and/or indicate the SCell configuration to the UE102.

The eNB 160 may determine 306 whether the PCell configuration specifiesUL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for a subframe or whetherthe PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configurationspecifies DL for the subframe. For a particular subframe, for example,the eNB 160 may determine 306 whether the PCell configuration and SCellconfiguration both specify DL for the subframe or whether the PCellconfiguration specifies UL while the SCell configuration specifies DLfor the subframe.

If the PCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for the subframe, then the eNB 160 maydetermine 312 a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on the PCellconfiguration. For example, if both the PCell configuration and theSCell configuration specify DL for the subframe, then the eNB 160 mayfollow a PDSCH HARQ-ACK association (e.g., PDSCH HARQ-ACK timing)specified by the PCell configuration. The PDSCH HARQ-ACK association mayindicate the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe. For example, the eNB 160 mayanticipate receiving HARQ-ACK information in the HARQ-ACK reportingsubframe. More detail is given below.

If the PCell configuration specifies UL for the subframe and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for the subframe, then the eNB 160 maydetermine 308 a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe based on a selected UL-DLconfiguration and a subframe number. For example, if the PCellconfiguration specifies UL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe, then the eNB 160 may follow a selected PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociation (e.g., PDSCH HARQ-ACK timing) specified by a selected UL-DLconfiguration (based on a subframe number, for example). For instance, aselected UL-DL configuration may be a UL-DL configuration that isselected from Table (1). The selected PDSCH HARQ-ACK association may bean association that is selected from Table (2). The PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociation may indicate the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe. The selectedUL-DL configuration may be predetermined or selected dynamically. Moredetail is given below.

The eNB 160 may receive 310 the SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information in theHARQ-ACK reporting subframe. For example, the eNB 160 may receive 310the SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK information on the determined 308, 312 HARQ-ACKreporting subframe (on the PCell, for instance). This may occur whetherthe PCell configuration and the SCell configuration both specify DL orwhether the PCell configuration specifies UL and the SCell configurationspecifies DL for the subframe. It should be noted that the SCell(s) andthe PCell may be aggregated carriers (for concurrent utilization).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating one example of a radio frame 435 thatmay be used in accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein.This radio frame 435 structure may be applicable in TDD approaches. Eachradio frame 435 may have a length of T_(f)=307200. T_(s)=10 ms, whereT_(f) is a radio frame 435 duration and T_(s) is a time unit equal to1/(15000×2048) seconds. The radio frame 435 may include two half-frames433, each having a length of 153600·T_(s)=5 ms. Each half-frame 433 mayinclude five subframes 423 a-e, 423 f-j each having a length of30720·T_(s)=1 ms.

In Table (1) above, for each subframe in a radio frame, “D” indicatesthat the subframe is reserved for downlink transmissions, “U” indicatesthat the subframe is reserved for uplink transmissions and “S” indicatesa special subframe with three fields: a downlink pilot time slot(DwPTS), a guard period (GP) and an uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS). Thelength of DwPTS and UpPTS is given in Table (9) (from Table 4.2-1 of3GPP TS 36.211) subject to the total length of DwPTS, GP and UpPTS beingequal to 30720·T_(s)=1 ms. Table (9) illustrates several configurationsof (standard) special subframes. Each subframe i is defined as twoslots, 2i and 2i+1 of length T_(slot)=15360·T_(s)=0.5 ms in eachsubframe. In Table (9), “cyclic prefix” is abbreviated as “CP” and“configuration” is abbreviated as “Config” for convenience.

TABLE (9) Normal CP in downlink Extended CP in downlink UpPTS UpPTSSpecial Normal Extended Normal Extended Subframe CP in CP in CP in CP inConfig DwPTS uplink uplink DwPTS uplink uplink 0  6592 · T_(s) 2192 ·T_(s) 2560 · T_(s)  7680 · T_(s) 2192 · T_(s) 2560 · T_(s) 1 19760 ·T_(s) 20480 · T_(s) 2 21952 · T_(s) 23040 · T_(s) 3 24144 · T_(s) 25600· T_(s) 4 26336 · T_(s)  7680 · T_(s) 4384 · T_(s) 5120 · T_(s) 5  6592· T_(s) 4384 · T_(s) 5120 · T_(s) 20480 · T_(s) 6 19760 · T_(s) 23040 ·T_(s) 7 21952 · T_(s) — — — 8 24144 · T_(s) — — —

UL-DL configurations with both 5 ms and 10 ms downlink-to-uplinkswitch-point periodicity are supported. In the case of 5 msdownlink-to-uplink switch-point periodicity, the special subframe existsin both half-frames. In the case of 10 ms downlink-to-uplinkswitch-point periodicity, the special subframe exists in the firsthalf-frame only. Subframes 0 and 5 and DwPTS may be reserved fordownlink transmission. UpPTS and the subframe immediately following thespecial subframe may be reserved for uplink transmission.

In accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein, some typesof subframes 423 that may be used include a downlink subframe, an uplinksubframe and a special subframe 431. In the example illustrated in FIG.4, which has a 5 ms periodicity, two standard special subframes 431 a-bare included in the radio frame 435.

The first special subframe 431 a includes a downlink pilot time slot(DwPTS) 425 a, a guard period (GP) 427 a and an uplink pilot time slot(UpPTS) 429 a. In this example, the first standard special subframe 431a is included in subframe one 423 b. The second standard specialsubframe 431 b includes a downlink pilot time slot (DwPTS) 425 b, aguard period (GP) 427 b and an uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS) 429 b. Inthis example, the second standard special subframe 431 b is included insubframe six 423 g. The length of the DwPTS 425 a-b and UpPTS 429 a-bmay be given by Table 4.2-1 of 3GPP TS 36.211 (illustrated in Table (9)above) subject to the total length of each set of DwPTS 425, GP 427 andUpPTS 429 being equal to 30720·T_(s)=1 ms.

Each subframe i 423 a-j (where i denotes a subframe ranging fromsubframe zero 423 a (e.g., 0) to subframe nine 423 j (e.g., 9) in thisexample) is defined as two slots, 2i and 2i+1 of lengthT_(slot)=15360·T_(s)=0.5 ms in each subframe 423. For example, subframezero (e.g., 0) 423 a may include two slots, including a first slot.

UL-DL configurations with both 5 ms and 10 ms downlink-to-uplinkswitch-point periodicity may be used in accordance with the systems andmethods disclosed herein. FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a radioframe 435 with 5 ms switch-point periodicity. In the case of 5 msdownlink-to-uplink switch-point periodicity, each half-frame 433includes a standard special subframe 431 a-b. In the case of 10 msdownlink-to-uplink switch-point periodicity, a special subframe mayexist in the first half-frame 433 only.

Subframe zero (e.g., 0) 423 a and subframe five (e.g., 5) 423 f andDwPTS 425 a-b may be reserved for downlink transmission. The UpPTS 429a-b and the subframe(s) immediately following the special subframe(s)431 a-b (e.g., subframe two 423 c and subframe seven 423 h) may bereserved for uplink transmission.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating some UL-DL configurations 537 a-g inaccordance with the systems and methods described herein. In particular,FIG. 5 illustrates UL-DL configuration zero 537 a (e.g., “UL-DLconfiguration 0”) with subframes 523 a and subframe numbers 539 a, UL-DLconfiguration one 537 b (e.g., “UL-DL configuration 1”) with subframes523 b and subframe numbers 539 b, UL-DL configuration two 537 c (e.g.,“UL-DL configuration 2”) with subframes 523 c and subframe numbers 539 cand UL-DL configuration three 537 d (e.g., “UL-DL configuration 3”) withsubframes 523 d and subframe numbers 539 d. FIG. 5 also illustratesUL-DL configuration four 537 e (e.g., “UL-DL configuration 4”) withsubframes 523 e and subframe numbers 539 e, UL-DL configuration five 537f (e.g., “UL-DL configuration 5”) with subframes 523 f and subframenumbers 539 f and UL-DL configuration six 537 g (e.g., “UL-DLconfiguration 6”) with subframes 523 g and subframe numbers 539 g.

FIG. 5 further illustrates PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations 541 (e.g., PDSCHHARQ-ACK feedback on PUCCH or PUSCH associations). The PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociations 541 may indicate HARQ-ACK reporting subframes correspondingto subframes for PDSCH transmissions (e.g., subframes in which PDSCHtransmissions may be sent and/or received). It should be noted that someof the radio frames illustrated in FIG. 5 have been truncated forconvenience.

The systems and methods disclosed herein may be applied to one or moreof the UL-DL configurations 537 a-g illustrated in FIG. 5. For example,one or more PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations 541 corresponding to one of theUL-DL configurations 537 a-g illustrated in FIG. 5 may be applied tocommunications between a UE 102 and eNB 160. For example, an UL-DLconfiguration 537 may be determined (e.g., assigned to, applied to) aPCell. In this case, PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations 541 may specify PDSCHHARQ-ACK timing (e.g., a HARQ-ACK reporting subframe) for HARQ-ACKfeedback transmissions corresponding to the PCell. For SCell HARQ-ACKfeedback transmissions, the PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations 541corresponding to the PCell may be applied for SCell HARQ-ACK feedbacktransmissions if the PCell configuration and the SCell configurationboth specify DL for the subframe including an SCell PDSCH. For SCellHARQ-ACK feedback transmissions, the PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations 541corresponding to a selected UL-DL configuration 537 may be applied forSCell HARQ-ACK feedback transmissions if the PCell configurationspecifies UL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframeincluding an SCell PDSCH.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating examples of PCell and SCellconfigurations. More specifically, examples 645 a-b where DL subframesindicated by an SCell configuration are a subset of DL subframesindicated by a PCell configuration are illustrated. In accordance withthe systems and methods disclosed herein, the SCell PDSCH HARQ-ACKtiming (e.g., reports) may follow the PCell configuration if the set ofDL subframes indicated by the SCell configuration (as determined basedon a SIB1, for example) is a subset of the DL subframes indicated by thePCell configuration (as determined based on a SIB1, for example). Inthis case, all DL subframes in the SCell configuration are also DLsubframes in the PCell configuration. It should be noted that the PCellmay have extra DL subframes allocated beyond those of the SCell. In FIG.6, DL subframes are denoted with a “D,” UL subframes are denoted with a“U,” and special subframes (which may include both an UL component and aDL component, for example) are denoted as an “S” for convenience.

In particular, FIG. 6 illustrates example A 645 a and example B 645 b,where the set of DL subframes indicated by the SCell configuration is asubset of the DL subframes indicated by the PCell configuration. Morespecifically, example A 645 a illustrates PCell configuration two (e.g.,“2”) 637 a and SCell configuration one (e.g., “1”) 637 b. In example A645 a, SCell DL subframes 0, 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9 are a subset of PCell DLsubframes 643. Example B 645 b illustrates PCell configuration four(e.g., “4”) 637 c and SCell configuration one (e.g., “1”) 637 d. Inexample B 645 b, SCell DL subframes 0, 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9 are a subset ofPCell DL subframes 643. In example A 645 a and example B 645 b, SCellHARQ-ACK reporting may follow the HARQ-ACK timing of the respectivePCell configuration 637 a, 637 c.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating additional examples of PCell and SCellconfigurations. More specifically, examples 749 a-b where DL subframesindicated by an SCell configuration are not a subset of DL subframesindicated by a PCell configuration are illustrated. If the set of DLsubframes indicated by the SCell configuration (as determined based on aSIB1, for example) is not a subset of the DL subframes indicated by thePCell configuration (as determined based on a SIB1, for example), thenthere is at least one conflicting subframe 747. For example, aconflicting subframe 747 may be where a PCell configuration indicates ULand an SCell configuration indicates DL for a subframe. In FIG. 7, DLsubframes are denoted with a “D,” UL subframes are denoted with a “U,”and special subframes (which may include both an UL component and a DLcomponent, for example) are denoted as an “S” for convenience.

In some approaches, and in a case that the set of DL subframes indicatedby the SCell configuration is not a subset of the DL subframes indicatedby the PCell configuration, the HARQ-ACK bits of the SCell may be mappedto UL subframe allocations in a PCell, while the SCell may follow PCelltiming in a subframe where both the PCell and the SCell have DL subframeallocations. In this approach, new association timing may be added tothe existing HARQ-ACK table for some cases where the set of DL subframesindicated by the SCell configuration is not a subset of the DL subframesindicated by the PCell configuration.

In accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein, however, nonew HARQ-ACK timing may be introduced for inter-band TDD carrieraggregation. As used herein, “no new HARQ-ACK timing” means that no newHARQ-ACK timing table entries may be defined for the systems and methodsdisclosed herein beyond those already defined in 3GPP Releases 8, 9 and10. For a PDSCH, the HARQ-ACK timing table refers to the table of thedownlink association set index for TDD illustrated in Table (2) above(from 3GPP TS 36.213).

In particular, FIG. 7 illustrates example A 749 a and example B 749 b,where the set of DL subframes indicated by the SCell configuration isnot a subset of the DL subframes indicated by the PCell configuration.More specifically, example A 749 a illustrates PCell configuration one(e.g., “1”) 737 a and SCell configuration two (e.g., “2”) 737 b. Inexample A 749 a, subframes 3 and 8 are conflicting subframes 747 betweenthe PCell configuration that indicates UL and the SCell configurationthat indicates DL for the subframes. Example B 749 b illustrates PCellconfiguration one (e.g., “1”) 737 c, SCell configuration four (e.g.,“4”) 737 d and SCell configuration three (e.g., “3”) 737 e. In example B749 b, subframes 7 and 8 are conflicting subframes 747 between SCellconfiguration four 737 d and PCell configuration one 737 c as well asbetween SCell configuration three 737 e and PCell configuration one 737c.

In example A 749 a and example B 749 b, SCell HARQ-ACK reporting mayfollow the HARQ-ACK timing of a selected UL-DL configuration. Forexample, a UE 102 and an eNB 160 may determine a HARQ-ACK reportingsubframe based on a selected UL-DL configuration and a subframe numberin example A 749 a and example B 749 b.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first procedure for reporting PDSCHHARQ-ACK. In particular, FIG. 8 illustrates examples of PCell and SCellconfigurations that may be utilized to determine a referenceconfiguration. For example, several procedures may be utilized forreporting PDSCH HARQ-ACK if the set of DL subframes indicated by theSCell configuration is not a subset of the DL subframes indicated by thePCell configuration. In a first procedure, all subframes in an SCellfollow a reference configuration. In this first procedure, PDSCHs of DLsubframes in an SCell follow a reference UL-DL configuration timing. Thereference configuration may be derived by selecting a subset ofoverlapping UL subframes. Thus, if the set of UL subframes of an SCellis a subset of the set of UL subframes of the PCell, the referenceconfiguration may be the SCell configuration. However, if the set of ULsubframes of an SCell is not a subset of the set of UL subframes of thePCell, the reference configuration may be another TDD UL-DLconfiguration that has less ULs than both the PCell and the SCell. Incase of multiple SCells, each SCell may follow its own referenceconfiguration. Thus, multiple different reference configurations may beused.

Additionally or alternatively, the reference configuration can besignaled by higher layer (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling).For a given PCell and SCell combination, multiple TDD UL-DLconfigurations may be used as the reference configuration for the SCell.The eNB may select one as the reference configuration by higher layersignaling. In a case of multiple SCells, each SCell may follow aseparate reference configuration. Alternatively, one referenceconfiguration may be applied for all SCells. However, this may requirehigher layer signaling. In some implementations, a single referenceconfiguration may be derived by selecting a subset of overlapping ULsubframes of the PCell configuration and configurations of allconfigured or activated SCell(s).

FIG. 8 provides some examples based on this first procedure. Inparticular, FIG. 8 illustrates PCell configuration one (e.g., “1”) 837a, SCell configuration two (e.g., “2”) 837 b, SCell configuration five(e.g., “5”) 837 c, SCell configuration four (e.g., “4”) 837 d and SCellconfiguration three (e.g., “3”) 837 e. PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations 841are illustrated, as well as subframes for which a reference UL-DLconfiguration may be determined based on UL subframes 851.

With TDD UL-DL configuration one (e.g., “1”) applied in the PCell, thereference configurations of an SCell with different TDD configurationmay be derived as shown in FIG. 8. For example, assuming that one ormore SCells have only one different TDD configuration, if an SCell isconfigured with configuration two 837 b, four 837 d or five 837 c, thereference configuration can be the same as the SCell configuration.However, if the SCell has configuration three 837 e, the referenceconfiguration will be configuration four by selecting only theoverlapping UL subframes. Thus, with PCell configuration one 837 a andSCell configuration four 837 d, the reference configuration will bedifferent from both the PCell configuration and the SCell configuration.

Furthermore, by higher layer signaling, an eNB may configure a differentTDD UL-DL configuration as the reference configuration, provided thatthe set of UL subframes of the reference configuration is a subset ofthe overlapping UL subframes of the PCell and the SCell. Thus, if theSCell has configuration four 837 d, besides configuration four 837 d, aneNB may also signal a reference configuration with configuration two orconfiguration five.

One benefit of the first procedure is the possible reuse of existing TDDUL-DL configurations for an SCell with a different configuration.However, there may be several drawbacks associated with this firstprocedure. First, the PDSCH HARQ-ACK bits may not be balanced indifferent uplink reports on the PCell. The overlapping UL subframes mayhave a much higher payload due to the aggregation of HARQ-ACK bits fromone or more SCells. In accordance with the examples illustrated in FIG.8, with PCell configuration one 837 a, if the SCell has UL-DLconfiguration two 837 b, UL subframes 2 and 7 need to report HARQ-ACKbits from both cells, and UL subframes 3 and 8 only report HARQ-ACK bitscorresponding to the PCell. Thus, the payload may be 6 bits in subframes2 and 7, and 1 bit in subframes 3 and 8.

Similarly, if an SCell has configuration four 837 d or three 837 e, ULsubframes 2 and 3 may report aggregated HARQ-ACK bits from both thePCell and the SCell with a HARQ-ACK payload of 6 and 5 bits,respectively, assuming only one SCell, and UL subframes 7 and 8 onlyreport HARQ-ACK bits of the PCell with a HARQ-ACK payload of 2 bits and1 bit, respectively. The HARQ-ACK unbalance situation is even worse ifan SCell has configuration five. In that case, all SCell bits areaggregated and reported on UL subframe 2 of the PCell with a HARQ-ACKpayload of 11 bits, even with only one SCell. The high payload in someUL subframes may lead to worse PUCCH and/or PUSCH performance on thePCell. The worse performance of PUCCH may also result in smaller cellcoverage.

In this first approach, the PDSCH HARQ-ACK bits may be additionallyreported in a crossover manner due to different TDD configurationtimings utilized on the PCell and one or more SCells. For example, aPDSCH on an SCell may be transmitted earlier than a PDSCH on the PCell,but the corresponding HARQ-ACK of the PDSCH on the SCell may be reportedlater than the HARQ-ACK of PDSCH on the PCell. This may cause anunnecessary delay. For example in FIG. 8, if the PCell has configurationone 837 a and the SCell has configuration four 837 d, the HARQ-ACKfeedback of a PDSCH transmission in subframe 4 on the PCell is reportedin UL subframe 8 of the same radio frame on the PCell. However, theHARQ-ACK feedback of a PDSCH transmission in subframes 0 and 1 on theSCell are reported in UL subframe 2 of the next radio frame on the PCellfollowing the reference UL-DL configuration setting.

Furthermore, the HARQ-ACK of PDSCHs of the PCell and the SCell in thesame DL subframe may be reported in different UL subframes. This maycauses some confusion and is not consistent with the cross-carrierscheduling. With cross-carrier scheduling, the PDCCH of the schedulingcell can be used to schedule a PDSCH or PUSCH transmission of anotherSCell. The HARQ-ACK feedback of the PDSCH or PUSCH should be associatedwith the scheduling cell timing. For example in FIG. 8, if the PCell hasconfiguration one 837 a and the SCell has configuration four 837 d, theHARQ-ACK feedback of a PDSCH transmission in subframes 0 and 1 on thePCell are reported in UL subframe 7 of the same radio frame on thePCell, but the HARQ-ACK feedback of PDSCH transmission in subframes 0and 1 on the SCell are reported in UL subframe 2 of the next radio frameon PCell following the reference UL-DL configuration setting.

Additionally, the first approach is more complex because differentSCells may need different reference configurations, and the referenceconfiguration may be different from both the PCell configuration and theSCell configuration. As an example in FIG. 8, if the PCell has UL-DLconfiguration one 837 a and the SCell has UL-DL configuration three 837e, the reference configuration would be UL-DL configuration four.

Higher layer signaling may also cause delay and service interruption.For example, if an SCell is activated or deactivated, the UE may notknow what association timing should be used before higher layersignaling is received. Furthermore, if there are multiple SCells withdifferent TDD UL-DL configurations, multiple reference UL-DLconfigurations may be used. If one reference UL-DL configuration issignaled and is applied to all SCells, the PDSCH HARQ-ACK unbalanceissue may worsen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one example of selected associationsfor a PCell with 5 ms periodicity in accordance with the systems andmethods described herein. In particular, FIG. 9 illustrates somesubframes 923 with subframe numbers 939 along with an example ofselected associations 955 for PDSCH HARQ-ACK reporting for conflictingsubframes 953.

In a second procedure, SCell timing may be determined on a subframebasis. In this second procedure, the timing can be determined based onthe type of subframe. In non-conflicting subframes where both PCell andSCell have DL subframe allocations, the SCell may follow the PCelltiming. Thus, the HARQ-ACK of PDSCHs of the PCell and the SCell in thesame DL subframe may be reported in the same UL subframe. This isconsistent with cross-carrier scheduling such that the HARQ-ACK feedbackof cross-carrier scheduled subframes are associated with the same timingas the scheduling cell. In a conflicting subframe, where the PCellconfiguration indicates UL and the SCell configuration indicates DL, thesubframe on the SCell may be mapped to a PCell UL subframe.

The systems and methods disclosed herein provide a fourth approach inthe second procedure for mapping the conflicting subframes with a PCellUL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation. In thisfourth approach, only the PCell configuration may be used as thereference configuration.

With a given PCell configuration, for each potentially conflictingsubframe with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframeallocation, an association mapping may be derived from all possibleSCell configurations. For a given PCell configuration, the potentiallyconflicting subframes with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCellDL subframe allocation are all conflicting subframes between the givenPCell configuration and the TDD UL-DL configuration five (e.g., theconfiguration with minimum UL subframe allocations).

Thus, for any SCell configuration, the set of conflicting subframes witha PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation maybe a subset of the potentially conflicting subframes with a PCell ULsubframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation. Moreover, theset of potentially conflicting subframes (e.g., possibly conflictingsubframes) with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframeallocation may be derived for each periodicity (e.g., 5 ms and 10 ms) ofTDD UL-DL configurations.

In one example of a 5 ms periodicity case, the set of potentiallyconflicting subframes with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCellDL subframe allocation may be derived based on configuration zero on thePCell and configuration five on the SCell. In one example of a 10 msperiodicity case, the set of potentially conflicting subframes with aPCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation may bederived by configuration three on the PCell and configuration five onthe SCell.

For each potentially conflicting subframe with a PCell UL subframeallocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation, the association mappingmay be selected from the existing HARQ-ACK association table (e.g.,Table (2) above). The selection may be based on (e.g., optimized basedon) HARQ-ACK payload balancing and HARQ-ACK delay. The selectedassociation mapping may be applied to all SCell configurations, ifapplicable. The associations of different potentially conflictingsubframes may be selected from different TDD configurations. Since thisassociation mapping is fixed to all SCell configurations, no referenceconfiguration and no higher layer signaling may be needed.

Table (3) above lists potentially conflicting subframes with a PCell ULsubframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation for a TDD PCellwith 5 ms periodicity. Table (3) also lists the existing associationsand examples of selected associations. Table (4) lists the applicabilityof the conflicting subframe with different PCell configurations with 5ms periodicity. Table (5) shows an example of a selected downlinkassociation index for potentially conflicting subframes when a PCellconfiguration has a 5 ms periodicity.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of selected associations (selected fromthe PDSCH HARQ-ACK association table (e.g., Table (2)), for example) fora PCell with 5 ms periodicity. In FIG. 9, “D” denotes a DL subframe, “U”denotes an UL subframe, “S” denotes a special subframe, and “C” denotesa potentially conflicting subframe 953.

Table (4) above illustrates the applicability of potentially conflictingsubframes with a PCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframeallocation for a TDD PCell with 5 ms periodicity. Table (5) aboveillustrates one example of selected downlink association index forpotentially conflicting subframes for a TDD PCell with 5 ms periodicity.Furthermore, FIG. 9 illustrates one example of selected associations 955(selected from the PDSCH HARQ-ACK association table (e.g., Table (2))for a PCell with 5 ms periodicity. In particular, FIG. 9 illustratesSCell-to-PCell PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations for conflicting subframesthat are selected from Table (2). This example of selected associationsis also illustrated in Table (3) and Table (5) above.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating one example of selected associationsfor a PCell with 10 ms periodicity in accordance with the systems andmethods disclosed herein. In particular, FIG. 10 illustrates somesubframes 1023 with subframe numbers 1039 along with an example ofselected associations 1059 for PDSCH HARQ-ACK reporting for conflictingsubframes 1057. Selected associations may be selected from an existingPDSCH HARQ-ACK association table (e.g., Table (2)) for a PCell with 10ms periodicity.

When the PCell configuration has a periodicity of 10 ms, only subframe 3and subframe 4 may be potentially conflicting subframes 1057 with aPCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation aslisted in Table (8) and FIG. 10. Table (7) above lists the applicabilityof the potentially conflicting subframes for PCell configurations with10 ms periodicity. Table (8) illustrates one example of a selecteddownlink association index for potentially conflicting subframes when aPCell has 10 ms periodicity. In some implementations, to better balancethe HARQ-ACK payload, an exception case may be defined if UL-DLconfiguration three is configured on the PCell. Instead of mapping tothe UL subframe 2 of the next radio frame, the PDSCH transmissions inpotentially conflicting subframe 3 and subframe 4 may be associated withthe UL subframe 3 and subframe 4 of the next radio frame on the PCell.

In some implementations of the systems and methods disclosed herein, oneor more of the following rules may be applied for a PCell configuration,for any SCell TDD configuration and for combinations of configurations.An SCell may follow the PCell timing in non-conflicting subframes (e.g.,subframes where both the PCell and the SCell have DL subframeallocations). In a conflicting subframe where the PCell has DL subframeallocation and an SCell has UL subframe allocation, no PDSCH HARQ-ACK isneeded for the SCell. Thus, PDSCH HARQ-ACK on the PCell follows its owntiming.

In a conflicting subframe with a PCell UL subframe allocation and anSCell DL subframe allocation, a selected PDSCH HARQ-ACK association maybe applied if applicable (as listed in Table (4) and Table (7), forexample). Since the same association is used for a given subframe andfor all SCell configurations, there may be no need to signal an extrareference configuration. The association mapping is independent of theSCell configuration and combinations of TDD UL-DL configurations.

The selected associations in the above tables and in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10illustrate examples of selecting PDSCH HARQ-ACK associations fromexisting table entries. Other associations may also be selected insteadof the example selected associations above. In one case, for example,the selected associations from the existing PDSCH HARQ-ACK table (e.g.,Table (2)) may be applied to all SCell configurations and combinationsof configurations. In another case, for example, the selectedassociations for an SCell configuration may depend on the combination ofPCell and SCell configurations. Thus, the selected associations of onePCell and SCell combination may be different from another PCell andSCell combination. However, as long as the selected associations arespecified for each combination and are used whenever applicable, thereis no need for extra higher layer signaling, such as RRC signaling.

Table (6) above illustrates potentially conflicting subframes with aPCell UL subframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation for TDDPCell with 10 ms periodicity. Table (7) above illustrates theapplicability of potentially conflicting subframes with a PCell ULsubframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation for TDD PCellwith 10 ms periodicity. Table (8) above illustrates a selected downlinkassociation index for potentially conflicting subframes for a TDD PCellwith 10 ms periodicity.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating examples of determining a HARQ-ACKreporting subframe in accordance with the systems and methods disclosedherein. In particular, FIG. 11 illustrates an example similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 8, but based on the systems and methods disclosedherein. More specifically, FIG. 11 illustrates PCell configuration one(e.g., “1”) 1137 a, SCell configuration two (e.g., “2”) 1137 b, SCellconfiguration five (e.g., “5”) 1137 c, SCell configuration four (e.g.,“4”) 1137 d and SCell configuration three (e.g., “3”) 1137 e. PCellPDSCH HARQ-ACK associations 1191 (e.g., HARQ-ACK timing) and an exampleof selected associations 1193 are also illustrated.

In this example, the PCell has UL-DL configuration one. In this case,there are three potentially conflicting subframes 1161: subframe 3,subframe 7 and subframe 8. For any SCell configuration, in anon-conflicting subframe where both PCell and SCell have DL subframeallocations, the PCell timing may be followed. In a conflicting subframewith PCell DL subframe allocation and SCell UL subframe allocation, thePCell keeps its own PDSCH HARQ-ACK timing, and no PDSCH HARQ-ACK isneeded for the SCell. In a conflicting subframe 1161 with a PCell ULsubframe allocation and an SCell DL subframe allocation, the selectedassociation 1193 mapping from the existing HARQ-ACK association tablemay be applied. This is also illustrated in FIG. 9 and in Table (5). Theresulting mapping is relatively clean and simple, compared with theprocedure described in connection with FIG. 8. Thus, FIG. 11 illustratesexamples of PDSCH HARQ-ACK mapping with selected associations 1193 fromthe existing table.

FIG. 12 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a UE1202. The UE 1202 described in connection with FIG. 12 may beimplemented in accordance with the UE 102 described in connection withFIG. 1. The UE 1202 includes a processor 1263 that controls operation ofthe UE 1202. The processor 1263 may also be referred to as a centralprocessing unit (CPU). Memory 1269, which may include read-only memory(ROM), random access memory (RAM), a combination of the two or any typeof device that may store information, provides instructions 1265 a anddata 1267 a to the processor 1263. A portion of the memory 1269 may alsoinclude non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Instructions 1265 band data 1267 b may also reside in the processor 1263. Instructions 1265b and/or data 1267 b loaded into the processor 1263 may also includeinstructions 1265 a and/or data 1267 a from memory 1269 that were loadedfor execution or processing by the processor 1263. The instructions 1265b may be executed by the processor 1263 to implement the method 200described above.

The UE 1202 may also include a housing that contains one or moretransmitters 1258 and one or more receivers 1220 to allow transmissionand reception of data. The transmitter(s) 1258 and receiver(s) 1220 maybe combined into one or more transceivers 1218. One or more antennas1222 a-n are attached to the housing and electrically coupled to thetransceiver 1218.

The various components of the UE 1202 are coupled together by a bussystem 1271, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus and astatus signal bus, in addition to a data bus. However, for the sake ofclarity, the various buses are illustrated in FIG. 12 as the bus system1271. The UE 1202 may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) 1273for use in processing signals. The UE 1202 may also include acommunications interface 1275 that provides user access to the functionsof the UE 1202. The UE 1202 illustrated in FIG. 12 is a functional blockdiagram rather than a listing of specific components.

FIG. 13 illustrates various components that may be utilized in an eNB1360. The eNB 1360 described in connection with FIG. 13 may beimplemented in accordance with the eNB 160 described in connection withFIG. 1. The eNB 1360 includes a processor 1377 that controls operationof the eNB 1360. The processor 1377 may also be referred to as a centralprocessing unit (CPU). Memory 1383, which may include read-only memory(ROM), random access memory (RAM), a combination of the two or any typeof device that may store information, provides instructions 1379 a anddata 1381 a to the processor 1377. A portion of the memory 1383 may alsoinclude non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Instructions 1379 band data 1381 b may also reside in the processor 1377. Instructions 1379b and/or data 1381 b loaded into the processor 1377 may also includeinstructions 1379 a and/or data 1381 a from memory 1383 that were loadedfor execution or processing by the processor 1377. The instructions 1379b may be executed by the processor 1377 to implement the method 300described above.

The eNB 1360 may also include a housing that contains one or moretransmitters 1317 and one or more receivers 1378 to allow transmissionand reception of data. The transmitter(s) 1317 and receiver(s) 1378 maybe combined into one or more transceivers 1376. One or more antennas1380 a-n are attached to the housing and electrically coupled to thetransceiver 1376.

The various components of the eNB 1360 are coupled together by a bussystem 1385, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus and astatus signal bus, in addition to a data bus. However, for the sake ofclarity, the various buses are illustrated in FIG. 13 as the bus system1385. The eNB 1360 may also include a digital signal processor (DSP)1387 for use in processing signals. The eNB 1360 may also include acommunications interface 1389 that provides user access to the functionsof the eNB 1360. The eNB 1360 illustrated in FIG. 13 is a functionalblock diagram rather than a listing of specific components.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of a UE 1402in which systems and methods for sending HARQ information for carrieraggregation may be implemented. The UE 1402 includes transmit means1458, receive means 1420 and control means 1424. The transmit means1458, receive means 1420 and control means 1424 may be configured toperform one or more of the functions described in connection with FIG. 2and FIG. 12 above. FIG. 12 above illustrates one example of a concreteapparatus structure of FIG. 14. Other various structures may beimplemented to realize one or more of the functions of FIG. 2 and FIG.12. For example, a DSP may be realized by software.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of an eNB 1560in which systems and methods for receiving HARQ information for carrieraggregation may be implemented. The eNB 1560 includes transmit means1517, receive means 1578 and control means 1582. The transmit means1517, receive means 1578 and control means 1582 may be configured toperform one or more of the functions described in connection with FIGS.3 and 13 above. FIG. 13 above illustrates one example of a concreteapparatus structure of FIG. 15. Other various structures may beimplemented to realize one or more of the functions of FIGS. 3 and 13.For example, a DSP may be realized by software.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any available medium thatcan be accessed by a computer or a processor. The term“computer-readable medium,” as used herein, may denote a computer-and/or processor-readable medium that is non-transitory and tangible. Byway of example, and not limitation, a computer-readable orprocessor-readable medium may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desiredprogram code in the form of instructions or data structures and that canbe accessed by a computer or processor. Disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray® disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

It should be noted that one or more of the methods described herein maybe implemented in and/or performed using hardware. For example, one ormore of the methods described herein may be implemented in and/orrealized using a chipset, an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) or integrated circuit,etc.

Each of the methods disclosed herein comprises one or more steps oractions for achieving the described method. The method steps and/oractions may be interchanged with one another and/or combined into asingle step without departing from the scope of the claims. In otherwords, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required forproper operation of the method that is being described, the order and/oruse of specific steps and/or actions may be modified without departingfrom the scope of the claims.

It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the preciseconfiguration and components illustrated above. Various modifications,changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation anddetails of the systems, methods, and apparatus described herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A User Equipment (UE) for sending HybridAutomatic Repeat Request (HARQ) information, comprising: a processor;memory in electronic communication with the processor; instructionsstored in the memory, the instructions being executable to: determine aprimary cell (PCell) configuration; determine a secondary cell (SCell)configuration; determine, for each subframe, whether the PCellconfiguration specifies uplink (UL) and the SCell configurationspecifies downlink (DL) for the subframe or whether the PCellconfiguration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe; determine a HARQ Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) reportingsubframe, wherein the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe is determined based onthe PCell configuration association timing if the PCell configurationspecifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe;and the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe is determined based on a selecteduplink-downlink (UL-DL) configuration and a subframe number if the PCellconfiguration specifies UL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe; and send Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) HARQ-ACKinformation of all serving cells for the subframe in the HARQ-ACKreporting subframe.
 2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the instructions arefurther executable to generate the PDSCH HARQ-ACK informationcorresponding to the subframe.
 3. The UE of claim 1, wherein theselected UL-DL configuration specifies a PDSCH HARQ-ACK association forthe subframe.
 4. The UE of claim 1, wherein the selected UL-DLconfiguration is selected from UL-DL configurations 0-6.
 5. The UE ofclaim 1, wherein a PCell and an SCell have a same periodicity ordiffering periodicities.
 6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the selectedUL-DL configuration is selected based on at least one of the groupconsisting of payload balancing and HARQ-ACK delay.
 7. The UE of claim1, wherein the PDSCH HARQ-ACK association specified by the selectedUL-DL configuration is applied to an SCell with any TDD UL/DLconfiguration.
 8. An evolved Node B (eNB) for receiving Hybrid AutomaticRepeat Request (HARQ) information, comprising: a processor; memory inelectronic communication with the processor; instructions stored in thememory, the instructions being executable to: determine a primary cell(PCell) configuration corresponding to a User Equipment (UE); determinea secondary cell (SCell) configuration corresponding to the UE;determine, for each subframe, whether the PCell configuration specifiesuplink (UL) and the SCell configuration specifies downlink (DL) for thesubframe or whether the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for the subframe; determine a HARQAcknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) reporting subframe, wherein the HARQ-ACKreporting subframe is determined based on the PCell configurationassociation timing if the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for the subframe; and the HARQ-ACK reportingsubframe is determined based on a selected uplink-downlink (UL-DL)configuration and a subframe number if the PCell configuration specifiesUL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe; andreceive Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) HARQ-ACK information ofall serving cells for the subframe in the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe.9. The eNB of claim 8, wherein the selected UL-DL configurationspecifies a PDSCH HARQ-ACK association for the subframe.
 10. The eNB ofclaim 8, wherein the selected UL-DL configuration is selected from UL-DLconfigurations 0-6.
 11. The eNB of claim 8, wherein a PCell and an SCellhave a same periodicity or differing periodicities.
 12. The eNB of claim8, wherein the selected UL-DL configuration is selected based on atleast one of the group consisting of payload balancing and HARQ-ACKdelay.
 13. The eNB of claim 8, wherein the PDSCH HARQ-ACK associationspecified by the selected UL-DL configuration is applied to an SCellwith any TDD UL/DL configuration.
 14. A method for sending HybridAutomatic Repeat Request (HARQ) information by a User Equipment (UE),comprising: determining a primary cell (PCell) configuration;determining a secondary cell (SCell) configuration; determining, foreach subframe, whether the PCell configuration specifies uplink (UL) andthe SCell configuration specifies downlink (DL) for the subframe orwhether the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configurationspecifies DL for the subframe; determining a first HARQ Acknowledgement(HARQ-ACK) reporting subframe, wherein the HARQ-ACK reporting subframeis determined based on the PCell configuration association timing if thePCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifiesDL for the subframe; and the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe is determinedbased on a selected uplink-downlink (UL-DL) configuration and a subframenumber if the PCell configuration specifies UL and the SCellconfiguration specifies DL for the subframe; and sending PhysicalDownlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) HARQ-ACK information of all servingcells for the subframe in the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising generating the PDSCH HARQ-ACKinformation corresponding to the subframe.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein the selected UL-DL configuration specifies a PDSCH HARQ-ACKassociation for the subframe.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein theselected UL-DL configuration is selected from UL-DL configurations 0-6.18. The method of claim 14, wherein a PCell and an SCell have a sameperiodicity or differing periodicities.
 19. The method of claim 14,wherein the selected UL-DL configuration is selected based on at leastone of the group consisting of payload balancing and HARQ-ACK delay. 20.The method of claim 14, wherein the PDSCH HARQ-ACK association specifiedby the selected UL-DL configuration is applied to an SCell with any TDDUL/DL configuration.
 21. A method for receiving Hybrid Automatic RepeatRequest (HARQ) information by an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising:determining a primary cell (PCell) configuration corresponding to a UserEquipment (UE); determining a secondary cell (SCell) configurationcorresponding to the UE; determining, for each subframe, whether thePCell configuration specifies uplink (UL) and the SCell configurationspecifies downlink (DL) for the subframe or whether the PCellconfiguration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe; determining a HARQ Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) reportingsubframe, wherein the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe is determined based onthe PCell configuration association timing if the PCell configurationspecifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe;and the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe is determined based on a selecteduplink-downlink (UL-DL) configuration and a subframe number if the PCellconfiguration specifies UL and the SCell configuration specifies DL forthe subframe; and receiving Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)HARQ-ACK information of all serving cells for the subframe in theHARQ-ACK reporting subframe.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein theselected UL-DL configuration specifies a PDSCH HARQ-ACK association forthe subframe.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the selected UL-DLconfiguration is selected from UL-DL configurations 0-6.
 24. The methodof claim 21, wherein a PCell and an SCell have a same periodicity ordiffering periodicities.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein theselected UL-DL configuration is selected based on at least one of thegroup consisting of payload balancing and HARQ-ACK delay.
 26. The methodof claim 21, wherein the PDSCH HARQ-ACK association specified by theselected UL-DL configuration is applied to an SCell with any TDD UL/DLconfiguration.